‘Dancing With the Stars’ Contestant Leaves the Show

Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill has left ABC’s "Dancing with the Stars." Yahoo TV reports that the 56-year-old voluntarily left the show in response to doctor’s orders because of a cyst on her spine.

Hamill had the potential to become the show’s oldest winner, but the cyst caused her to hobble because it pinched a nerve. The dance rehearsals exacerbated the problem, the story adds.

"I’m taking the advice of my spine surgeon and I need to withdraw from the competition. I have an injury that could be irreparable — a nerve damage — and it would be completely unfair for me to stay in this and have any of these people go home," Hamill said Tuesday night.